Plural pencil with slidable lead carriers



July 3l, 195 w. Bosse-.RT

PLuRAL-PENCIL WITH SLIDABLE LEAD CARRIER Filed March 25, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Wauw @mb July 31, 1951-- w. BossERT I lYLURM.. PENCL WITH SLIDABLE LEAD CARRIER Filed March'23, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

,576.1622. HG1/5d, Hj

www*

www?

vtaining carriers.

Patented July 31;5 1951 PLURAL PENCIL WITH sLIDABLE 'CARRIERS 'Walter .B0ss`ert, Pf orzheiinpGeijmany f i Applieation Maren 2s, 1949, semina-'$25950 In Switzerland March 277,' 1948" This invention relates to Ymechanical pencils in which azplura-lityof lead-carriers are selectively-shifted from their position Vofrest to their positionof work by slide-membersmoving in longitudinal slots of the casing, and is especiallyfdi- 'erected to pencils' of the'a'foresaid type in which the backward movement Iloi" the lead-earriersV-to their position of restis effected by means o'fvhelifcal springs.

It has already lbeen known lto the art'to devise the actuating means of pencils of thiskindfin such -a way that the forward shiftingof lone lead- -carrier to its position of work automatically re-V turns the previously `used -lead-'carrier to "its posi- HHonor-rest, whereby the operation of suchrpencils has been greatly facilitated.

However, known constructions of this type have the disadvantage that during` Ithe exchanging `acfton 'a -ffrictional lcontact between the lead-car- -rers can not reliablybe jprevented, which frequently results vtheV destruction of the; pointed ends of the l'eajcls projecting *from theirfapper.. Another diiculty Yarises when the material lused in making the casingsii-s not-sufficiently -Sblhg enough,V -as usuajlly'is the case in'pencils' made of precious metal. VIn'pencils yof ithigtype fthe wall of the casing Awill bend inwardly, 'even vunder the vstrain 'of normai u se, particularly at 'ithe places where the strength Io f the casing has been weakened 'by the 'longitudinal js/lots `for the slide-members. And 'the aforesaid inward j'bendfingwill then prevent the 'operating means, iwhich have the shape -of a long 'and slotted sleeve var- 'vranged in the interior of the easing, -from rper- 'forming the rotation-whichY causesthe releasevof --the lead-carrier previously used from its position `of'work.

VIn order to overcome jthe disadvantages ofthe known device the lpresent invention does no longerl couple Athe retrac'tng operation of one lead-car# -rier `to theprojec'ting movement of another leadcarrier.

AAccording to the present invention the release lof the means which lock the'-leadecarrier-in'its` .positionof -work is Veffected through slight backaward shifting of a slide-member, whereupon lthe flead-acarrier automatically returns l-to its :position :of arest, .due tocthe :action ofrlitsspring. Andhit isonly afterlthe dead-'carrier has thus Ifbeen' re,A `tracted .from :its V.projected iposition, that fthefforwardshifting :ofi-:the anextleaci-carrier takes place.

`rThe slide-members by means of which Jthe backward `shifting and l.the release of Axthexlead- Barrier ds ffeoted Loonsistgofrone-:or rarplurality.` of e iliolaims. (erizo-14,3)

Mslide-headsorof a shiftingring surround-ing the Leasing .on theoutside.

But it is also possible :to devise the slide-heads, which movethe lead-.car-

Y riers-totheirposition ofwork, in such a :wax-that :will .cause theIelea-'se of the locking means lslight :backward shifting 4of Aa*slider-head;v whose appertaining :lead-carrier is in its position fllet lead-carrier whichisfinits -positioni'of WQlTk.

The characteristic features of the Ypresen-tV invention. are z. a pluralityiof lead-carriers tequip-98d with Va return springlandea rearwardlyextending vguiding-shaft provided .with 1an-inwardly:extending resilient end portion;a supp ort.onwhiclrthe lead-carriertolits .positionof rest.

v appendedlairns." Y

inwardly extending resi-lient end pQYkQn llls itself lwhen vits Xappertaining'lead-carrier Ahas reached its position .of work and' :therebysupportsk its lead-carrier thatezpositionlof wolk; a Aspring-fpressedazrelease member positoned'ibefore ."sad support; :and slide-members arranged in slots lof .the casing .and-,adapted .to displace vthrough backward shifting in their slot isaidlelease-member 4against .fthe :pressure of its Spring --toward said support; to thereby rdislodge Athe fre.-

slient endo'f .the Agnidingeshaft from its support. Afor .thefpurpose ,of returning .its appertaining -rThe* invention will :be .best understood trol/nja consideration of vthe following detailed description 'taken in .connection Awith the accompanying drawingsforming .a A,part of fthis :lspec-ication,

4with the understanding lhowever, `that thefinive'n- -ton fis-:not .-conned to any strict/.conformity with the `showing-tof the .drawings :but may be .changed or modied so 7long fas such Achanges or modifications -mark no `material [departure from thev salient features-of "the invention as expressed y@iifiYv-t'lfle the" "drawings in, which Similar reference characters *indicatel `iikje'fparts 'in the different figures;` Fig. -1 is la .longitudinalisetional view of the lrstformlof.construction Fires-f2 eridf 31er@ ldleiiudinal Sectional tiers of the'rearportionlof thepencilshowing the'jll' 2 1liine and operating means @Qn .an 'enlarged stale.

Fis. :4 .represents @W0 lCrOSSfsections 'on eline .-'Eieuresr enana-represent azifagmentarr. lelijgitudinal sectionalfvewgof the 'inner :casingia'nd @a cross-.sectionrm iixneSuf-50mi:the-latter.'`

Figur-Ves v6 and dav represent ,an elevationaliview and la bottom plan .view of a `ic,ross-.like member forming Lthe eudef'waysifor the leadzcarrer shafts.;` l

Figures 7 and 7a represent a front and a side elevation of a lead-carrier shaft.

Figures 8 and 8a represent a fragmentary elevational View and a central longitudinal sectional view of a slide-bar provided with a slide-head.

Figures 9 and 10 are front and side views and Fig. 9a a longitudinal sectional view of slidehead portions.

Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary longitudinal sectional views on an enlarged scale of the locking and operating means of the second and third form of construction. Fig. 11 is a section on line I I-I I of Fig. 13.

Figs. 13 and 14 are cross-sections on line I3---I3A of Fig. ll and on line XIV-XIV of Fig. 12.

Figures l and 15a represent a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View and a cross-section of the inner casing of the second form of construction.

Figures 16 and 16a represent a side and a bottom, end elevational view of the cross-like member forming the guide-ways for the lead-carrier shafts of the second form of construction.

Figures 17 and 17a. represent front and side elevations of a lead-carrier'shaft and Figs. 18

and18a side elevational and longitudinal sec- 'tional views of the rear portion of a slide-bar of the third form of construction.

Referring now to the drawings inv detail, the

pencil is provided, in all of the several forms ltheir position of rest to their position of work and vice versa. (Fig. l). At their rear ends the lead-carriers are equipped with the annular shoulders 1, which serve as abutments for the rear ends of the springs!! and to which are secured the flat shafts 9 provided with a short longitudinal slot 8. At its rear end the inner casing '.2 is closed up by a closure-member I0 of crosslike conformation, which is so designed that it also-serves as a meansfor guiding the shifting movement of the shafts 9, which extend through the guide-passages in the member ID defined by angular grooves in-the arms II into the rear portion of the pencil. Mounted on the member I0 and made integral therewith is Va bolt I2,

which is threaded at its end and onto which a .v sleeve I3 has been screwed, which is so devised that it may be serve as a magazine for spare leads. Arranged on bolt I2 between cross I0 andthe forward end of sleeve I3, is a cup-shaped "release member I 4 in such a way that the central portion of bolt I2 forms the guide-bar for the 'release member. The release member I4 is provided with a helical spring I5 interposed between the front end 3U of sleeve I3 and a central recess in the top of the release member with the result Vthat the latter is resiliently pressed against the rear end of cross It (Figs. 2 and 11). Provided at the outer circumference of the rear portion of sleeve I3 and preferably made rigid therewith is an annular shoulder I6, into which through the casing I a screw I'I has been screwed. It will be noticed that by arranging all of the lead-carriers 5 as an associated group or bundle by means of the inner casing 2 in the manner described, it will be easy to introduce the lead- 4 carriers into, and to withdraw them out of, the outer casing I. In other words, the parts I0,

I2, I3 and I 6 are secured to the inner casing 2 and hence after the screw member Il has been released or unscrewed and subsequently to the removal of the knobs 25, 23, the entire mechanical equipment of the pencil can be Withdrawn rearwardly. y

The inner casing 2 is provided with the longitudinal slots I8, and in addition to that, on its outside, with the guide-tracks I9 for the slidebars 2B. The guide-tracks I9 are concealed from view by the outer casing I (Figs. 4, 13 and le). Mounted on the slide-bars 2B is a slide-head, by means of which the lead-carrier 5 is shifted into its positionof work. The slide-head con- Csists of a` member 2| rigidly secured to the slidebar '2li and extending through the guide-slots 22 of casing I to the outside of the casing I. Mounted on the outer end of member 2|, on both sides o f the slot 22', are two side-membersA 23 which slightly project above the member 2I and which are fastenedto the latter by means of a rivet 24. Insertedinto the space 25 between the vtwo projecting side-members 23, hereinafter called head 23, is an angular member 26, riveted to the head 23 as at 2l. (Figs. 9 and 10.) The angular member 26 is the important part of the head 23, and together with the latter slides inthe slots 22. The member 2 5 is provided, at one of its ends, with the actuating arm 28, which extends through a perforationfin the slide-bar 2li and through the longitudinal slot I8 of the inner casing 2' into the interior Yof the pencil and engages in the short longitudinal slot 8 of shaft 9 of the lead-carrier.

The features of the invention `hereinbefore disclosed are those which are alike to lall ofthe several forms of construction described in the present invention. Hereafter those featureswill be described in which the several formsof construction diiferfrom one another. f

In the rst form of construction the actuating `arm 28 is so dimensioned that it extends into the interior of the casing 2 beyond thelateral edges of the release member .I4 (Fig. 2) and takes up its position before the forward edge of the latter, due to the pressure of the return spring 4, which just sufces to return the slide-head 23 to the aforesaid position, but which is not strong enough to overcome the counter-pressure extered against the release member I4 by the helical spring I5. In the first form of construction the short longitudinal slot 8 of the shaftsV 9 is of such length that the actuating arm 28'engaging in it may perform in ita small additional backward movement A, notwithstanding the fact, that the lead-carriers in their position of rest almost or actually abut the forward edge of cross I, and that, for that reason, it is impossible for their appertaining shafts 9 to move still farther Ato the rear. If the aforesaid backward movement of head 23 takes place when the associted leadcarrier is in its position of rest, the backward movement will cause vthe displacement of the release member I4 from the position illustrated in Fig. 2l to the position shown in Fig. 3. In the latter position the member I4 has forced its way behind the resilient rear end of shaft 9 Whose appertaining rlead-carrier is at that moment in its position of work, and by so doing has dislodged the rear end of that shaft from its supporting place von -the forward end f 30 of sleeve I 3,.where, owing to its resiliency,

the rear endl had lodged itself during the foreagtcaasil In the second and thirdI form of .construction v the slide-heads 23 areexclusively used for .shifting Ythe lead-carriers rfrom their position of rest ltotheir position of work. For releasing the leadlcarriers from that positionof workthese modifi- A:cations provide special releasing means. 4In the construction illustrated in Figs. l1 .and 13 Athe releasing is done by 'means of two slide-heads 3I diametrically arranged .withrespect to .each other 'and at an angle of.45 with respect to the slide- Iheads 23, while inthe modiicationof Figs. .12 and 14 the releasing its effected with the aid of a shifting ring 32 surrounding thecasing onits outside.

Each slide-head .-3I (Fig. .13) is provided with -an actuating arm 33 whichextends through spe- .cial slots 34 .and 35 Vin the outer casing I and Lthe innergcasing .2 and bears against the vforward yedgeoi the release member I4 (Fig. 11). In a zposition .of rest ythe arm 33 engages in a small -recess 36 of the cross I3, .in which itis locked by the pressure exerted by .thespring .I5v upon ,the

releasemember I4. Y.But slight backward shifting of Vthe slide-head 3| will displace the release -membertoward the rear `and thereby .accomplish :the ysame result as the .backward shifting of the vslide-heads 23 ofthe rst form of construction.

The .same applies to the operation of the shifting ring 32 of the third form of construction. -Here,'too, backward shifting of the ring will dislodge shaft 9 from its position on the forward =edge of sleeve I3 and return the appertaining lead-carrier-to its position of rest. In this construction the arms 36 projecting inwardly from :the ring 32 extend through two longitudinalslots 220i the outer casing I, in which also the slide- Aheads A23 move, but which, for that purpose, have been somewhat lengthened toward the rear. They further extend through long slots 31 in two .slidebars 2l] and slots 38 in two lead-carrier shafts 9 and abut against the forward edge of the release member I4 (Fig. 12). The lengthk of the slots .3.;'I and 38 corresponds tothe length of the shifting path of the lead-carriers 5 from their `p-osition of rest to their position of work and vice versa. Fig. 12 shows Ythe shifting-ring in releas- .ing position. Manifestly, variations may be resorted to and parts and figures may .be modified or used without others within the scope of' the .appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by kLetters Patent of the United States is:

i, 1. In a pencil of the type described, ,a casing provided with-a vplurality of longitudinal slots; a

fnarriers adapted toretain its lead-,carrier lintits Aposition of rest and to return its lead-carrier from its position of work to its position of restiafterrelease of said locking means; and actuating means ,slidably mounted in each of said longitudinal slots Aand adapted to shift'said lead-carriers to their position of work through forward shifting in said ,longitudinal slots, and to `cause said releasing means to releasesaid locking means and thereby .return alead-carrierrfrom .its position of. work to its position of rest through 'backward shifting `,in said longitudinal slots prior to vshifting an- :fother lead-carrier to its position of work.

2. In a pencil of the type described, an outer basing; a plurality of lead-carriers suitably positioned within said casing and adapted to be moved .from their position of rest to their position of .work and vice Versa; a longitudinal slot provided in said casing for each of said lead-carriers; a supporting member rigidly arranged 'ln the rear portionof the pencil; a guiding-shaft for each of said lead-carriers attached with its lforward endto the end of its lead-carrier and`exwtending with its rear end toward thel rear end of the pencil and having a free resilient end portioninwardly turned toward the axis of the penvcil, said free resilient inwardly turned end portion being adapted to be lodged against said rsupporting member when its appertaining lead-carrier is moved into working position, to thereby retain its lead-carrier in its working position; a release member resiliently mounted before-said supporting member and adapted to be shiftedV toward said supporting member and to displace said resilient end portion of said guiding-shaft from its supporting position against said supporting member; a helical spring mounted on each of said lead-carriers and adapted to retain its leadcarrier in its position of rest and to return'its lead-carrier from its position of work to its position of rest after displacement of said resilient end portion from said supporting member; and actuating means consisting of a slide-member for each of said lead-carriers, slidably mounted in f said longitudinal slots and adapted to transfer its appertaining lead-carrier from its position of 'rest to its position of work through for-ward shifting toward the front end of the pencil, and to cause said release member to displace said resilient end portion of said guiding-shaft from its supporting position onv said supportingv member and thereby return a lead-carrier from its position of work to its position of rest through backward shifting toward the rear end of the fpencil, prior to the forward shifting of another lead-carrier to its position of work. l

3. A plural mechanical pencil according to claim 2, wherein the release of a lead-carrier from its position of work is eifected by the backward shifting of a slide-member appertaining to a leadcarrier which is in its position of rest.

4. A plural mechanical pencil according to claim 2, wherein the release member is provided With a helical spring, and in which said backward shifting of said slide-member forces said release member against the pressure of its spring toward said supporting member and behind the end portion of said guiding-shaft lodged on said supporting member, for the purpose of displacing said endportion of said guiding shaft from its supporting position on said supporting member, to thereby release the lead-carrier supported by said guiding-shaft from its position "of work. I

5.1A plural mechanical pencil Vaccording' to aseaesi claim 2, in which each of said guiding-shafts is provided with a slot, and in which each of said slide-members is mounted on a slide bar slidably arranged beneath said longitudinal slots of said casing and above its respective lead carrier and guiding shaft, and in which each of said slidemembers is provided with an actuating arm eX- tending into the respective slot of each of said guiding-shafts for the purpose of shifting said guiding shaft and its appertaining lead-carrier into working position.

6. A plural mechanical pencil according to claim 2, in which each of said guiding-shafts is provided with a slot, and in which each of said slide-members are provided with an actuating arm extending through said longitudinal slot in said casing and through the respective slot in each of said guiding shafts into the interior of said casing before the front edge of said release-member, for the purpose of displacing said release member toward said supporting member through backward shifting of said slide-member in said longitudinal slot.

7. A plural mechanical pencil according to claim 2, in which each of said guiding shafts is provided with a longitudinal slot, and in which each of said slide-members is provided with an actuating arm extending through said longitudinal slot in said casing and in said guiding-shaft into the interior of said casing before the front edge of said release member, and in which said longitudinal slots in said casing and in said guiding-shafts are of such length and so positioned that slight backward shifting of a slide-member appertaining to a lead-carrier which is in its po- -sition of rest will displace said release member toward said supporting member suiliciently to cause the release of said locking means.

8. A plural mechanical pencil according to claim 2, in which said pencil includes a removable inner casing in which said plurality of lead-carriers are arranged, said inner casing comprising an outer cylindrical wall provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots corresponding in number to the number of slots in said outer casing, a front-wall provided with a guide-passage for the front-portions of each of said lead-carriers, and a removable rear-wall provided with a guide-passage for each of said guiding-shafts of said leadcarriers.

9. In a mechanical pencil of the type described, an outer casing; a plurality of lead-carriers suitably positioned within said casing and adapted to be moved from their position of rest to their position of work and vice versa; a longitudinal slot provided in said casing for each of said leadcarriers; a supporting member rigidly arranged in the rear portion of the pencil; a guiding-shaft for each of said lead-carriers attached with its forward end to the end of its lead-carrier and extending with its rear end toward the rear end of the pencil and having a free resilient end portion inwardly turned toward the axis of the pencil, said free resilient inwardly turned end portion being adapted to be lodged against said supporting member when its appertaining lead-carrier is moved into Working position, to thereby retain its lead-carrier in its working position; a release member resiliently mounted before said supporting member and adapted to be shifted toward said supporting member and to displace said resilient end portion of said guiding-shaft from its Supporting position on said supporting member; a helical spring mounted against each of said lead carriers and adapted to retain its lead-carrier in 'its position yof. rest and to 'return its lead-carrier from its position of work .to its position ofI rest after displacement of saidrresilient end portion from said supporting member; actuating means consisting of a slide-member foreach of said lead-carriers adapted to transfer its appertaining Vlead-carrier from its position of rest to its position of work through forwardshifting towards the front end of the pencil, said slide members being mounted on slide-bars slidably arranged beneath said longitudinal slots of said casing and above said guiding-shaftslof'said lead-carriers, said slide-bars andY said guiding-shafts formed with long slots and said longitudinal slots in said casing being formed with extensions towards the rear end of said casing, and a plurality of special slide-members for actuating said release member mounted in said extensions of said longitudinal slots and provided with actuating arms designed to extend through said extensions of said slots in said casing and said long slots in said slide.- bars and said guiding-shafts into the interior of said casing before the front edge of said release member and to move said release member into releasing position through backward shifting of Said special slide-members. t

l0. In a mechanical ipencil of the type described, an outer casing; a plurality of leadcarriers suitably positioned within said casing and adapted to be moved from their yposition of rest to their position of work and vice versa; a longitudinal slot provided in said casing for each of said lead-carriers; a supporting member rigidly arranged in the rear portion of the pencil; a guiding-shaft for each of said lead-carriers attached with its forward end to the end of its lead-carrier and extending with its rear end toward the rear end of the pencil and having a free resilient end portion inwardly turned toward the axis of the pencil, said free resilient inwardly turned end yportion being adapted to be lodged against said supporting member when its appertaim'ng lead-carrier is moved into working position, to thereby retain its lead-carrier in its working position; a release member resiliently mounted before said supporting member and adapted to be shifted toward said supporting member and to displace said resilient end portion of said guiding-shaft from its supporting position on said supporting member; a helical spring mounted against each of said lead-carriers and adapted to retain its lead-carrier in its position of rest and to return its lead-carrier from its position of work to its position of rest after displacement of said resilient end portion from said supporting member; actuating means consisting of a slide-member for each or said lead-carriers adapted to transfer its appertaining lead-carrier from its position of rest to its position of work through forward shifting towards the front end of the pencil, said slide members being mounted on slide-bars slidably arranged beneath said longitudinal slots of said casing and above said guiding-shafts of said lead-carriers, said slide-bars and said guiding-Shafts formed with long slots and said longitudinal slots in said casing being formed with extensions towards the rear end of said casing, and a shifting ring for the actuation of said release member surrounding the pencil on its outside behind said slide-members and provided on its inside with a plurality of actuating arms designed to extend through said extensions of said slots in said casing and said long slots in said slide-bars and said guiding-shafts into the interior of said casing before thefront edge of said release member and to move said release member into releasing position through backward shifting of said special slide-members.

1l. In a mechanical pencil of the type described, an outer casing; a plurality of lead-carriers suitably positioned within said casing and adapted toA be moved from their position of rest to their-position of work and vice versa; a longitudinal slot provided in said casing for each of said lead-carriers; a supporting member rigidly arranged in the rear portion of the pencil; a guiding-shaft for each of said lead-carriers attached with its forward end to the end of its lead-carrier and extending with its rear end toward the rear end of the pencil and having a free resilient end portion inwardly turned toward the axis of the pencil, said free resilient inwardly turned end portion being adapted to be lodged against said supporting member when its appertaining lead-carrier is moved into working posision, to thereby retain its lead-carrier in its working position; a release member resiliently mounted before said supporting member and adapted to be shifted toward said supporting member and to displace said resilient end portion of said guiding-shaft from its supporting position on said supporting member; a helical spring mounted against each of said lead-carriers and adapted to retain its lead-carrier in its position of rest and to return its lead-carrier from its position of work to its position of rest 10 after displacement of said resilient end portion from said supporting member; actuating means consisting of a slide-member for each of said lead-carriers adapted to transfer its appertaining lead-carrier from its position of rest to its position of work through forward shifting towards the front end of the pencil, said pencil being provided for the actuation of said release member with separate longitudinal slots; and a plurality of separate special slide-members mounted in said separate longitudinal slots, said separate special slide-members being provided with actuating arms designed to extend into the interior of said casing before the front edge of said release member and to move said release member into releasing position through backward shifting of said separate special slide-members.

WALTER BOSSERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,136,290 Fend Nov. 8, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 679,199 Germany July 31, 1939 239,969 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1946 

